CPSC Again Exempts Unfinished and Untreated Wood Toys From Certain Third-Party Testing

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is again exempting toys made of unfinished and untreated wood from third-party testing for heavy elements, it said (here). CPSC had initially issued a direct final rule in July creating the exemption (see 1507160022), before opposition prompted the commission to withdraw the provisions (see 1509090025). After addressing comments, CPSC again found unfinished and untreated trunk wood does not contain heavy elements that would exceed the limits specified in CPSC's toy standard. The exemption takes effect Jan. 19.

The exemption only applies if the wood has not been treated or adulterated with the addition of any materials that could result in the addition of any of the heavy elements listed in the toy standard at levels above their respective solubility limits, said CPSC. “Unfinished and untreated trunk wood means wood harvested from trees with no added surface coatings (e.g., varnish, paint, shellac, polyurethane) and no materials added to the wood substrate (e.g., stains, dyes, preservatives, antifungals, insecticides),” it said. Manufactured or engineered woods such as pressed wood, plywood, particle board, or fiberboard would not be exempt, said the commission.

(Federal Register 12/17/15)